Field for United Teachers of Dade elections getting crowded

After news that longtime president of United Teachers of Dade will not seek another term, the field of candidates to lead the largest union in Miami-Dade is getting crowded.

Eugenio "Geno" Perez told the Miami Herald Friday that he will team up with state Rep. James Bush III. Bush, a Miami Democrat, will run for president and Perez, a Republican, will vie for vice-president under the caucus dubbed "No Teacher Left Behind" -- a twist on the controversial federal eduation law.

"We'll do the best we can for teachers and the community," Perez said, on his way to file his paperwork at union headquarters.

Perez ran last election cycle in 2010 against current president Karen Aronowitz but is still contesting those results in court. He also recently lost a bid for the state seat representing District 115 against Michael Bileca, who sponsored the so-called parent trigger law last session.

Other candidates planning to run for president of United Teachers of Dade: Fedrick Ingram, Artie Leichner and Ceresta Smith.